Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of Maryland CNC speech recognition testing in his May 2015 audiogram, and he asserts that his hearing loss is worse than reflected by a March 2014 VA examination.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,PTSD service connection is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if it preexisted service and was aggravated by service.,Bilateral hearing loss service connection is remanded as there are no audiometric standards used in the April 2015 VA examination, requiring conversion from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards.,Tinnitus secondary to PTSD or a service-connected disability is remanded due to its intertwining with the PTSD claim and need for a new VA examination.,Hypertension service connection is remanded as there are no audiometric readings provided in the April 2015 VA examination, requiring conversion from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards. Additionally, it needs a VA examination to determine if it is secondary to PTSD or medication for any service-connected condition.,Gastrointestinal and acid reflux conditions service connection are remanded as they are intertwined with the PTSD claim and need a new VA examination.,Vertigo service connection is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to May 11, 2017, or a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and a skin condition due to herbicide exposure are denied. The Board has remanded the Veteran's PTSD and hypertension claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee pain and inflammation, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the merits of the claim as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability needs to be re-evaluated due to his testimony suggesting it might have worsened since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's right ankle sprain and bilateral hearing loss for further evaluation due to recent testimony indicating an increase in severity since his last examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hypertension has been granted. Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 20 percent evaluation.,Service connection for an immune disorder, throat polyps, colon polyps, breast mass, and hypertension secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is denied. The acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder due to another medical condition) related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss conditions and his military service.

The appeals for service connection for skin cancer of the nose, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is considered to have started during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, including exposure to noise during his military duties.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, as well as his claim to reopen. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease in both lower extremities, skin lesions on both legs, hypertension with edema, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service treatment records do not contain any mention of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, including noise exposure. The issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and service connection for left and right hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for residuals of TBI and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.